April 2009

Yabusame is Japanese archery performed on horseback. There are two types of Yabusame: the one of the Kamakura Era is called Koshiki, and the one of the Edo Era is called Kisha Hasamimonoshiki.

The Shogun encouraged Yabusame as a necessary accomplishment of a samurai. At present, the head of the Ogasawara family holds these archery competitions in Kamakura, Nikko and Asakusa. Inheriting the Shogunate since the Kamakura era, he is active as a master of archery and horsemanship.

(The above information is based on the brochure provided during the archery competition event held on the 18th of April 2009 at Sumida Park in Asakusa).